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Self-protection is a crucial, sometimes lifesaving skill that everyone needs to thrive in this world. With increasing access to technology and other forms of human development, it is easier to access your vulnerabilities and use them against you. Read and apply this article to protect yourself emotionally and physically--you won't regret it!

Steps

1

Be assertive. Communicate your personal boundaries in a clear, courteous and consistent manner. Then, follow through with them and take measures to ensure that you are respected and safe. Don't give in to any manipulation, or let others bend your values. Stand your ground, defend yourself and others against bullying and mistreatment and simply don't let others walk all over you! Assertiveness involves reminding others when they are manipulating you, saying no without feeling guilty about it and staying true to who you are, even when others aren't of the same opinion. You need to have faith in your abilities and take it all in stride, even when you have the urge to break down and give in.[1]

2

Keep your secrets to yourself. Betrayal and disloyalty are increasingly common in the modern world. Follow the three-out-of-seven rule. If you have seven secrets, let's say, only tell three of them to your best friends. If you would not want everyone to know about something, do not say it to anyone at all. People change very quickly, and the very person who seemed like your loyal, trustworthy best friend last night could suddenly turn into a ruthless gossip and manipulator the next morning.[2]

3

Make efforts to be low-key. Be reserved and discreet, and observe your environment constantly. Be low-key, because the less people know of your ambitions, passions and secrets, the less they will be able to hinder you or target you. If you tell everyone your life plan and difficulties in the home, they can and will be used against you. You can't control anyone else's words or actions, so it is better not to give them a chance to act or speak in a detrimental way in the first place.

4

Do not put complete trust in friends. When you're in school, the social group that you're with will probably change. Don't completely cut yourself off from your closest friends, but be careful. If you have a friend that you hang out with sometimes, but aren't really close with, don't tell her or him anything that you wouldn't want the whole school knowing. If you have a friend that likes to talk behind their other friend's backs, keep in mind that she can be talking about you behind your own back, too. Once you run out of things to provide, those who were formerly close to you may take up manipulative behaviours and bully you.

5

Understand and value security. Do not leave personal or valuable objects lying around, even for a single instant. People can and will steal, violate your privacy, and read or use what they find. If you use makeup and don't want the whole school to know, or if you didn't finish your homework, or if your favourite soccer cleats are in there, don't leave your bag lying around. Whatever it is that you value or need, or want to hide and conceal, do it completely. Keep a lock on your locker and, if necessary, your bags.[3]

6

Listen to your gut. When with others, observe and listen to your conscience. Uphold your values, even if it means missing out on some "fun" activities. Don't smoke, drink or engage in sexual activity. Even if you feel pressured, do 'not take drugs. If you feel like something is not the right thing to do, it definitely isn't. If you listen to your values and gut feeling and evaluate the consequences of your actions, all will be fine.[4]

7

Put your safety first, even when you're out having fun. If you're at a party, don't accept a drink from someone else. Don't leave your drink unattended. Someone could slip something into it and you would never know (the 'date rape' drug is completely tasteless). If you're going to drink, please don't do it at parties. If you get drunk enough, you're leaving yourself very vulnerable to all kinds of things. If you don't think you can gracefully say no to a drink if offered, just carry a cup with water in it. Being cool does not mean being reckless. Recklessness is a sign of weakness and immaturity--don't get stuck in that awful behavioural pattern! Drinking water, watching out and not taking dangerous risks is cooler and more virtuous than getting drunk and smoking.[5]

8

Don't randomly accept transportation. This goes for girls and guys. Just don't do it. Even if you know them from school or somewhere else, it's just not safe. If you leave with somebody, your chances of survival are greatly diminished. Say no kindly and firmly, resist if necessary and get away if you are pursued.

9

Don't let other people hurt your feelings. Just because they call you ugly or stupid or anything else does not make it true. Chances are, they're probably just one those people who get pleasure out of being mean and meaningless.[6]

10

Be smart about sex. If you have had sex and regret it, don't feel guilty. Don't be afraid to talk to a parent or another adult you love and can be open with! This is always a good idea.[7]

11

Take someone with you. If you have the chance to take someone, tell him/her or a group of friends to walk around with you. You'll have a lower chance of being attacked when walking in groups.

12

Take your dog. If you have a fearless dog like a German Shepherd, take him/her with you. Dogs are very loyal to their masters; they will do everything to keep you safe. They will even bark when they notice an unknown or danger.

13

Notice your surroundings. When you're moving alone, walking, driving or riding, check to see if someone you don't know is following you. If you feel positive about it, don't panic; just feel brave and keep moving.[8]

If you know someone nearby that you're passing, by immediately move to their home. If possible, make a call to your friend and let them know you suspect you're being followed. Let them know about your location and every move you're taking. You will protect both yourself and your friend that way.

14

Use technology. Our technology is very advanced. There are several ways to maintain your safety with it, too.

Technology, for instance, gives you a way of contacting the police when you're in an emergency. You can do that through a simple call.

Auto Help is a useful Android application developed in the market. You can install it through Google Play here. It helps you send SMS with your current location if you say "PLEASE HELP ME."

If you say this simple command, the app will detect and understand that you're in danger. This will be true regardless of where your smartphone is. Then Auto Help will send the SMS with the current location to the number you're going to save. In some devices, however, it might not work normally because of a limitation about the device. If works, you're good to go. Give yourself a try before you go out. You won't be in a good place if you use it in a dangerous situation and it doesn't work.[9]

Community Q&A

It really just depends how you fee about the situation. Being able to physically protect yourself is okay. You may never know if you would really need those skills but they would still come in handy. Coming up with some good comebacks is also fine as long as you don’t hurt anyone’s feelings. You should follow what the page says just in case you need the tips.

Stand up to him, and let him know your physical and emotional boundaries and the consequence of crossing them. Let him know that he doesn't control you. Don't let him make you feel guilty for trivial things. Get help immediately if things start to get out of hand.

You might try taking an acting class or getting involved in theater. Sometimes just learning how to pretend to be assertive can allow you to "fake it til you make it." Practice your skills in front of the mirror. A self-defense class may also help you learn how to be more physically assertive and provide you with some confidence.

My reputation has gone down because I started interacting with guys. What should I do?

Community Answer

There is nothing wrong with interacting with guys. If you feel good about what you are doing (regardless of others) and that you're not hurting anybody, you should not let them make you feel weird/bad about it. It shouldn't concern them. You should not be on the fence about it, but if confronted, you should make them know that there's nothing bad about what you do and that they have no say in it!

How do I deal with a person who wants to have a sexual relationship with me?

Community Answer

Tell them you're not interested (assuming you're not). If they persist, tell them you're not going to change your mind and ask them to stop making inappropriate or flirtatious remarks to you. If they continue to persist, avoid them as much as possible, and if you're at work or school, tell an authority figure what's happening.

Let him make a fool out of himself with trying to ruin your name because he is bitter about something. If what he is saying is a lie, do not worry. Continue to do the right things and the truth will come out. If you are in school and you feel he is bullying you, you can always alert a teacher or administrator.

Tips

Tune out the rotten things people say.

Have someone you can trust and talk to. A parent, a relative, a counselor (remember, counselors by law cannot share what you say to them with other people, as long as it is not something that's against the law, such as a serious death threat).

The most valuable thing you can have is self assurance. Acting vulnerable to get attention will only ever get the wrong kind

Always stay safe. No one knows about any havoc and danger that you'll face in the future. Be prepared, pre-plan and take necessary steps to stay safe. Have an emergency plan and learn to stay calm in these situations. Freaking out will impede your ability to think clearly, which is vital in perilous, life-or-death situations.

If you are being harassed in any way, you must tell an adult. If you have been raped or assaulted, contact the authorities immediately. This is not your fault.

Lift weights and become physically fit. It is healthy for you. But still don't be too worried about your physical image. Remember, everyone is beautiful in their own ways!

Warnings

These are just suggestions. If you have a serious problem or need help, ask for help from a professional or parent or other adult.

Article Info

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 37 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Together, they cited 9 references. This article has also been viewed 137,148 times.